Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Duck-E-News Winter 2014 Edition



Board Members
Jeff Diven (P) 469-6434 jeff@sumterprecision.com
Eric Cooper (VP) ickre@yahoo.com
John Summerford (Treasurer) jsummerford79@gmail.com
Paul Johnson (V Treasurer) basil@ftc-i.net

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact one of your board members or e-mail the Duck-E-News.

News from the Board
The HOA board discussed the following items of concern at their bi-monthly meeting.
** Covenant and ByLaw abuse and enforcement
** Maintenance in common areas
** Picnic review and ideas
The minutes from the board meeting and treasurer’s report are included at the end of the newsletter. If you want to be a part of the community but don’t want to be on the board you can join a non-board committee. They include annual picnic, architectural, maintenance, nominating and neighborhood watch committees.

The next board meeting will be January 21, 2014. If you have concerns or items to bring before the board please contact one of the board members prior to the meeting so you can get on the agenda.


Important Numbers
Street sign and pot hole issues                436-2558
Police (Speeding, vandalism)                  436-2739
Animal Control                                      436-2066
Black River Electric                              469-8060
Sheriff’s Office                                     436-2790
Poison Control                                       800-222-1222
PUPS(Call before you dig)                     888-721-7877
Litterbugs                                             877-7-LITTER
Trash Pick-up


Community Picnic
The picnic was held on October 26th in the cul-de-sac at the end of Canvasback Cove.  Both the Sumter Fire Department and Sumter Police Department participated. We also had a ‘bounce house’ from Space Walk of Sumter, a visit from Randy Bennett “The Balloon Guy”, and free hot dogs, and drinks for all. We kicked off the event at 3:30PM and attendance peaked about 60 residents. It was a beautiful but brisk afternoon and the weather turned quite cool by sunset.
Lessons learned: we competed with numerous other Fall events including a major Fall Festival at Millwood Elementary.  We should keep this in mind in the future and probably shift the schedule to have the event the Spring as we did in 2012.
Cost incurred by the Home Owner Assn. was $630. The good news, we saved enough unused supplies to hold another picnic in 2014 without the need to purchase additional cups, plates, utensils, napkins, etc..                                            John Summerford
 
HOA    News
Your help is needed!
The following positions need to be filled to help make our community the best in the area. Some are non-board member committees. Please look them over and see if there is something you would  like to volunteer for.

One Board Member
The Board member shall attend board meetings, make decisions, handle affairs of the community and oversee the Maintenance Committee

Architecture Committee
The Architectural Control Committee shall have the duties and functions described in the Restrictive Covenants. It shall be alert for any proposals, programs or activities which may adversely affect the value of the residences of members of the Association and shall advise the Board of Directors regarding any necessary Association action on such matters. The Board shall have final authority in matters of architectural control.

Maintenance Committee
The Maintenance Committee shall advise the Board of Directors on all matters pertaining to the maintenance, repair or improvement of the lots and common areas and shall perform such other functions as the Board as it’s discretion determines.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall have the duties and functions described in Article V of these bylaws and such other functions as the Board in it’s discretion determines.

Picnic Committee
The Picnic Committee shall have the duties and functions of planning for the Idlewild yearly picnic.

Neighborhood Watch Committee
The Neighborhood Watch Committee shall have the duties and functions of gathering information and passing it on to the residents for the safety of the community. 


Let’s get our HOA back on track!
Contact one of your board members or the Duck-E-News


Attention Renters
You are invited to participate in the Idlewild community activities, meetings, etc. You are a part of our community. Although you may not vote, your opinion is valuable and you are invited to attend meetings and participate on committees. We look forward to you volunteering to help make our community a great place to live!


Welcoming Committee

Thanks to Stephanie Bomar and Kat Head for volunteering to be the Idlewild Welcoming Committee. To date they have delivered more than a dozen welcome packages to new neighbors. Do you have a new neighbor on your street or know of one? If so, please e-mail Kat at katsgraphics@live.com  or Stephanie at sbomar@uwaysumter.org. You may also e-mail ildewildnewsletter@live.com and the information will be passed on. We want to be sure everyone feels welcome when they join the Idlewild community.


Neighborhood Watch

Thanks to those who have passed on alerts to keep our neighborhood safe. Keep up the good work!
Your neighborhood is only as SAFE as you make it.



We would like to remind everyone to be courteous to your neighbors while walking your dog. Please don’t allow your pet to walk through or to do their business in your neighbor's yards. And if they do, be respectful of your neighbors and your neighborhood and carry a doggie bag to clean up after your pet.
Do you rent your property? 
Owners – do you know you may be responsible if your renters own a dog and that dog bites or hurts someone or damages another property? Check your insurance policy.

$$  HOA Dues  $$

If you have not paid your HOA Dues for 2013, please send them to the address above. Dues are $100.00. 22 homeowners have not paid their dues. If you have questions about your dues, please contact John Summerford  E-mail: jsummerford79@gmail.com



Idlewild’s Handy List

When you need a job done around your home, it’s hard to know who to trust. The Duck-E-News would like to make a list of reputable contractors / service providers in the area. Do you have a favorite contractor or service provider that you would like to share with your Idlewild neighbors? Please forward their name, type of business and contact information to idlewildnewsletter@live.com


Covenants

A survey of the neighborhood was taken before the board meeting in November and it was discovered that a lot of the covenants are being abused. Boats, trailers, RVs, yard maintenance and many other covenants are being neglected. These are things that make the neighborhood unappealing to new residents. A flyer was delivered to each mailbox in Idlewild notifying residents of the covenants abuse.
A new boat survey was completed since the last board meeting. About 6 of the 12 boats and trailers that were highly visible when surveyed before Thanksgiving and before we put out the flyer on mailboxes have been moved. Some have been relocated to the rear of the driveway and are much less prominent than they were.
  


Sumter Links






SumterFest 2014

The weekend 'kicks off' on Friday, March 14th at 5pm with rides and entertainment beginning at 6pm. Then, Saturday, March 15th, and Sunday, March 16th the days begin at 10am with vendors, entertainment, rides, games and activities until 10pm! This is your chance to have some fantastic family time!
http://sumterfest.com/index.html


VOLUNTEER TO BE A BOARD / COMMITTEE MEMBER


Idlewild Board Minutes
November 19, 2013

Attendance: John Summerford, Paul Johnson, Jeff Diven, Theresa Diven,
Special Guests: Stephanie Bomar and Kat Head

Treasurer Report
Approved as presented

Welcome Packets
Kat Head and Stephanie Bomar brought sample items that they include in the Welcome Packets for new neighbors. They have already given out over 13 packets. Ideas are needed to learn of new residents. Welcome Packets should be a budgeted item for next year.

Neighborhood Picnic
The fall picnic was a success. But it competes with other fall events. The cost to date is $569.00. Not all the invoices have been paid. Left over paper products will be kept for the next picnic. Many items were either donated or received at a discount. Discussion of ideas for the next picnic include moving picnic to spring, adding more events, get more residents involved, face painting, donated prizes and a scavenger hunt.

Common Area Maintenance
Sprinklers are not working in 6 out of 9 areas. New sprinkler heads have been paid for but have not been installed.
Lights at the front entrance need to be replaced. A decision was made to get bids from landscape lighting contractors to upgrade the lighting.
Barefoot common area needs a few bushes to complete the upgrade. L&S has not finished the job. John will research the history of the common area maintenance.
Do we have a signed contract with L&S for maintenance?
Is there a water meter for the front entrance? Where is it? Who pays for it? John will research.
Neighborhood kids may do yard work for a small price for those who cannot do it.
A suggestion was made for special recognition for yard of the month or quarter.

Covenants
Discussion was held on the abuse of the Covenants and ByLaws. Why don’t residents want to pay? An audit of the community was made and 22 homes were in violation of the Covenants. It was decided to draft a letter to all residents and place on mailboxes about the abuse of covenants and non-payment of dues. We need to be strict on the rules to improve our neighborhood. A suggestion was made to get bids for offsite storage of boats, trailers, etc. to give homeowners a choice if they do not have an area in their yard for storage. All back dues should be collected. The steps to collect back dues are: 1. Send a registered letter, 2. File a lien on the property.

Architectural Committee
Approval of a structure for a resident was given
 
 
Next board meeting
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 7PM at 321 Mallard Drive


Respectfully Submitted,
Theresa Diven

Treasurers Report

Beginning Balance 11/1/2013   $11,507.02                  Checks:  Space Walk of Sumter     $   190.00

Checks written                            $1,786.11                               City of Sumter (water)     $    119.36

Deposits                                      $   100.00                              USPS (stamps)                $        9.20

Closing Balance 11/30/2013        $9,829.91                              L & S Landscaping          $ 1,188.88

                                                                                                 Simply Amazing Pgms      $     125.00

                                                                                                 Black River Electric          $       35.57
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                 City of Sumter (water)      $     118.10